Intravascular devices, systems, and methods to address eye disorders

Abstract

A method may include accessing an artery in communication with an ophthalmic artery of a subject, and advancing a microcatheter along the accessed artery so as to align a distal end of the microcatheter with an ostium of the ophthalmic artery, wherein the microcatheter includes a lumen having a guidewire positioned therein. In addition, the method includes proximally withdrawing the guidewire relative to the microcatheter so as to enable a distal portion of the microcatheter to assume a curved relaxed configuration, and cannulating the ostium with the distal portion of the microcatheter when the distal portion is in the curved relaxed configuration.

We claim: 
     
       1. A balloon catheter, comprising:
 a catheter shaft outer portion; 
 a catheter shaft inner portion disposed radially within the outer portion and defining a guidewire lumen extending therethrough, an annular space between the outer portion and the inner portion defining an inflation lumen; 
 a distal tip section, wherein, in a curved configuration, the distal tip section includes at least a first curve in a first direction and a second curve in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the first curve has a radius of approximately 7.5 mm to 15 mm and an arc length of approximately 35° to 55°, and wherein the second curve has a radius of approximately 2 mm to 3 mm and an arc length of approximately 170° to 190°; and 
 a balloon in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, wherein a proximal neck of the balloon is coupled to the outer portion and a distal neck of the balloon is coupled to the inner portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The balloon catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion includes a series of increasing flexible polymer tubes from a proximal end of the outer portion to a distal end of the outer portion. 
     
     
       3. The balloon catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one radiopaque marker provided on the inner portion adjacent to at least one of a proximal end and a distal end of the balloon. 
     
     
       4. The balloon catheter of  claim 1 , wherein, in the curved configuration, the distal tip section includes a third curve extending from a distal end of the second curve. 
     
     
       5. The balloon catheter of  claim 4 , wherein the third curve has a curve radius of approximately 1.0 mm and an arc length of approximately 15° to 30°.